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In 1582, a Japanese nobleman by the name of Lord Otomo Sorin sent a group of envoys to Europe.
The entire round trip of their journey took eight years, and along the way, they visited several European countries and met multiple European heads of state, including two popes.
It was hoped that their mission would revolutionize relations between Europe and Japan.
Learn more about the Tensho Embassy and the first Japanese mission to Europe on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government.
It is presented to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have displayed extraordinary bravery and valor in combat, often at great personal risk and beyond the call of duty.
The Medal of Honor has a rich history dating back to the American Civil War and has undergone various changes in its design, criteria, and awarding process.
Learn more about the Medal of Honor, how it was created and how it is awarded on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
Reid Hoffman has invested in AI for years. The LinkedIn co-founder said he used AI to vet his new book, Superagency, written with Greg Beato, which makes an optimistic case for an AI-powered future. In today's episode, Hoffman joins NPR's Steve Inskeep for a conversation about the book that touches on his decision to back Kamala Harris for president in 2024 and on his falling out with Elon Musk. Then, Bill Gates joins NPR's Scott Detrow for a conversation about his new memoir Source Code. Much of Gates' writing has focused on the future – but here he reflects on his early life, from his childhood to the birth of Microsoft. He speaks with Detrow about the death of Gates' high school best friend and the opportunity he saw in personal computing.
The Gates Foundation is a financial supporter of NPR.
To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday
Surprisingly stable chicken meat prices, a lawsuit threat against the Gulf of Mexico's name change, and the Trump administration's false claims about Social Security beyond the grave are all under the microscope on this edition of Indicators of the Week.